~ inside The Game Of ThronesAnd George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire In the novels, dragons are only slightly more implausible to the Westeros than they are to us. They are essentially the same dinosaurs that went extinct much more recently, with their massive skulls and skeletons on display to prove that they once roamed the skies, and a wealth of lore that keeps their once powerful existence vivid in the imagination. But as time goes by, The Game Of Thrones Start, no one has ever seen it life It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a dragon.
Everything changes when Daenerys Targaryen, the last heir to the royal family, receives a very special wedding gift while in exile. Daenerys’s three eggs eventually hatch, earning her the famous nickname “Mother of Dragons,” and when her scaled offspring (Drogon, Raegal, and Viserion) become a sufficient threat, they become a vital part of her plan to reconquer Westeros. Of course, there are the White Walkers to deal with first, The Game Of Thrones It was kind of you to give us the zombie dragon as part of that plot detour, but even after Drogon and company entered the world, it was still 8 seasons later. The Game Of ThronesDragons are still a nearly impossible concept. Even battles fought against supernatural warriors tend to take place on the ground, and revolve primarily around swords, arrows, axes, knives, and fists.
That is not the case Dragon’s HouseIt takes place several generations before the event. throne. It is a time when Targaryen culture and the family’s seemingly unbreakable grip on the Iron Throne are intrinsically linked to their dragons. The average citizen of Westeros may never actually encounter a dragon, especially if they have never been to Dragonstone or King’s Landing. But it is known that dragons exist and are terrifyingly dangerous. It is only natural that anything seen between the clouds would sound a warning cry. “Dragon!!!” Even if it’s a “friendly” dragon and doesn’t have an angry Targaryen riding on its back, taking immediate cover is the only safe option.
Season 1 Dragon’s House Dragons are an essential part of the fabric of this world. We see Targaryen children anxiously waiting for their specially designated eggs to hatch (or, if you’re Eamond Targaryen, waiting for a relative to die so you can rush in and suddenly own a riderless mount). The children are expected to study the High Valyrian Mandate (which begins with “Dracarys!”, of course) and the art of dragon taming that has elevated the family to untouchable status. What can beat a dragon? Nothing… except another dragon. Dragon’s House Fans saw at the end of season 1 that dragons are mostly used for movement and intimidation, but Targaryen beasts don’t always obey. Amplified dragons, especially powerful ones like Aemond’s Vhagar, won’t necessarily act when told to back down. He may devour smaller dragons and human children just because he can.
Ahead of Season 2, Max has released a video summarizing all the most important dragons on the show. It’s not entirely up to date after the events of Episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” but it’s still useful, especially since many of the dragons have similar names, like the Targaryens.
Episode 4 was a turning point, as it showed the first battle we’ve seen in Westeros involving rival riders in the skies (aside from the Night King and his aforementioned zombie dragons, of course). House Targaryen’s power has long been based on the idea that “we rule because of the dragons,” but when the civil war known as the Dance of Dragons broke out, both There are dragons on both sides. And since the Battle of Rook’s Rest ended so tragically, neither side can afford to leave their dragons at home for future fights. The limit has been reached. Dragon’s House Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal explained: Entertainment Weekly“This is the first nuclear conflict. When it ends, the world effectively sees a mushroom cloud on the horizon, and they know that we have now entered a different era of war. The whole strategy of war changes after that, because everything is so different.”
Actually, it’s not. Bad news for the characters. Now you have to add “being intentionally roasted alive” and “being accidentally stepped on” to the list of horrible ways to die in Westeros. But good news for dragon fans watching from the comfort of their couches. Finally, the creatures we’ve heard so much about are finally unleashed, unleashing volcanic mayhem that stretches HBO’s special effects budget to its limits. The nuclear war metaphor makes perfect sense, but it’s a lot more fun to watch two ferocious dragons fight with fire, teeth, and claws, anticipating their mutually certain destruction.
And it’s worth noting that dragons didn’t just have a bigger presence on the battlefield in Season 2. They had more personality. We all knew Vhagar was a warrior, but what about the disgust he let out when he had to stop his attack at Rook’s Rest? Or the look Rhaenys and Meleys exchanged when they silently agreed to fly back to attack their enemies? Or when Rhaenyra and her dragon Syrax shared a sad moment earlier in the season, mourning the loss of Rhaenyra’s young son and his own dragon?
There are four more episodes left in season 2. There are still plenty of battles to fight, and there are unclaimed dragons flying around Dragonstone, who could add a touch of charisma to the story ahead. New episodes Dragon’s House It airs every Sunday on HBO and Max.
Want more io9 news? Find out when you can expect the latest Marvel. star Wars, and Star Trek Everything You Need to Know About the Next Steps and Future of the DC Universe in Releases, Films, and TV Doctor Who.
